HC Deb 07 January 2003 vol 397 c116W
Mrs. Calton

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to modernise legal standards relating to overcrowding in rented accommodation. [88550]

Mr. McNulty

As the Deputy Prime Minister mentioned in his reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Bethnal Green and Bow (Ms King) on 16 December 2002,official Report, column 612W, the office of the Deputy Prime Minister is considering whether overcrowding-including in rented accommodation-is best tackled through a more modern set of standards or through the new Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS), on which the office hopes to legislate when Parliamentary time allows. Provisions to introduce HHSRS will form part of the Housing Bill which we intend to publish in draft during this session.